Movable Side-By-Side Cooling Package

ABSTRACT

A work vehicle includes a frame and a cooling package. The cooling package includes a water cooler and an oil cooler disposed in a fixed side-by-side arrangement. The water cooler and the oil cooler are movably supported side-by-side on the frame. The cooling package includes a front surface and a rear surface. The cooling package is configured to move on the frame to permit cleaning of the front surface of the cooling package.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to work vehicles. It relatesmore particularly to a cooling package construction for a work vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Work vehicles, such as skid steer loaders, typically include a watercooler and an oil cooler supported on a frame of the work vehicle tocool the engine and fluid systems of the work vehicle. Typically, a fanis used to draw ambient air through coils of the water cooler and oilcooler to reduce the temperature of the water and oil, respectively,flowing through the cooler coils. During operation of the work vehicle,foreign matter, such as leaves, dust, etc., may accumulate on orproximate to the coils, adversely affecting the ability of the coolersto remove thermal energy from the engine and fluid systems of the workvehicle.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a compact coolingpackage construction that provides for the removal of foreign matter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a work vehicleincluding a frame and a cooling package. The cooling package includes awater cooler and an oil cooler disposed in a fixed side-by-sidearrangement. The water cooler and the oil cooler are movably supportedside-by-side on the frame. The cooling package includes a front surfaceand a rear surface. The cooling package is configured to move on theframe to permit cleaning of the front surface of the cooling package.

Another embodiment of the present invention further relates to a coolerarrangement including a cooling package including a water cooler and anoil cooler disposed in a fixed side-by-side arrangement. The watercooler and the oil cooler are movably supported side-by-side on a frame.The cooling package includes a front surface and a rear surface. Thecooling package is configured to move on the frame to permit cleaning ofthe front surface of the cooling package.

An advantage of the present invention is improved access to a coolingpackage of a work vehicle.

A further advantage of the present invention is a reduction in thenumber of parts included in the cooling package.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following more detailed description of the preferredembodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whichillustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective rear view of an embodiment of a work vehicleshowing a cooling package disposed in an operating position of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective rear view of an embodiment of a work vehicleshowing a cooling package disposed in a maintenance position of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective front view of a cutaway of an embodiment ofa work vehicle of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial top perspective view of an embodiment of awork vehicle of FIG. 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial top perspective view of a portion of anembodiment of a cooling package of a work vehicle taken from region 5 ofFIG. 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective rear view of an embodiment of a work vehicleshowing a cooling package disposed in a maintenance position of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial top perspective view of a cooling packagetaken from region 7 of FIG. 6 of the present invention.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-2 show an exemplary work vehicle 10 including a frame 12 thatrotatably carries a plurality of wheels 14. An implement 18 including astructure 16 having an arrangement of structural members and actuatorscontrollable by an operator (not shown) to manipulate implement 18 toperform work is also connected to frame 12. Implement 18 includes, butis not limited to, brooms, augers, rakes, bale spikes, buckets, blades,hammers, forks, hoes, rock wheels, stump grinders and tillers. In analternate embodiment, structure 16 may maintain implement 18 in a fixedor non-moving relationship with frame 12. Frame 12 structurally supportsa cab structure 20 to surround and protect the operator. The cabstructure 20 may be configured to pivot with respect to frame 12. Frame12 includes a front end 22 disposed proximate to implement 18. Front end22 is disposed between opposed sides 26, 28 disposed between front end22 and a rear end 24. A seat (not shown) is disposed interior of cabstructure 20.

A rear door 30 and upper rear door 32, both shown opened in FIGS. 1 and2, provide access to a movable cooling package 34. Movable coolingpackage 34 includes comprising a water cooler 36 and an oil cooler 38disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.1 shows cooling package 34 disposed in a closed or operating position.FIG. 2 shows cooling package 34 disposed in an opened or maintenanceposition by virtue of pivoting movement 40. By pivoting the coolingpackage 34 into an open or maintenance position, opposed front and rearsurfaces 100, 102 (FIG. 2) of the cooling package 34 are easily accessedby a user (not shown) to remove foreign matter, including dust, leaves,brush, etc.

For purposes herein, the term side-by-side pertains to the exemplaryembodiment of the rectangular cooling package including a front surface100 and a rear surface 102 of each of the water cooler 36 and oil cooler38 directly facing rear end 24 of work vehicle 10. The rear surface 102of each of the water cooler 36 and oil cooler 38 directly faces fanhousing 44. Stated another way, water cooler 36 and oil cooler 38 arenot stacked in-line with one another with respect to the generaldirection of air drawn by fan 42 through rear door 30 and then throughthe water cooler 36 and oil cooler 38. It is to be understood that theterm side-by-side does not require the front and rear surfaces 100, 102of the water cooler 36 and oil cooler 38 to be aligned, as the termside-by-side may also include arrangements in which the water cooler 36and oil cooler 38 are disposed at an angle to each other, and furtherincludes non-rectangular constructions of the water cooler 36 and oilcooler 38.

In the exemplary embodiment, water cooler 36 and oil cooler 38 have atube and fin construction, collectively referred to herein as coilstructure, although other constructions may also be used, such as abar/plate.

In addition to enhancing the ability to clean the cooling package 34,arranging a cooling package 34 in a side-by-side arrangement of thewater cooler 36 and oil cooler 38 provides additional benefits. Forexample, the cooling efficiency of one or both of water cooler 36 andoil cooler 38 is increased in comparison to an otherwise similarlyshaped water cooler 36 or oil cooler 38 having a stacked coolerconstruction, as typically found in known cooling package constructions.That is, in a stacked cooler construction, the water cooler typicallyoverlies oil coolers. In this stacked arrangement, the temperature ofthe air increases as it flows through the coils of the water cooler. Theheated air subsequently flows through the oil cooler to provide cooling.The amount of thermal exchange between the heated air and the coils ofthe oil cooler is reduced, by using heated air instead of air at ambienttemperatures. Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment, the novelside-by-side arrangement negligibly increases the core area of the watercooler and oil cooler from 0.29 square meters to 0.33 square meters,thereby increasing cooling. In alternate embodiments, the core area ofthe cooler package of the present invention may be equal or less thanstacked/in-line cooling packages.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective front view of a cutaway of work vehicle 10.As shown In FIG. 3, a fan 42 is enclosed in a fan housing 44.

FIG. 4, which is an enlarged partial top perspective view of theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, shows a pair of brackets 46 connected toframe 12 that secure one side of fan housing 44 to frame 12. A secondpair of brackets 46 (present on the opposite side of fan housing 44, butnot shown in FIG. 4) secures an opposite side of fan housing 44 to frame12. In the operating position as shown in FIG. 1, cooling package 34 isdisposed in closed proximity to fan housing 44. A link 80 connected atone end to frame 12 is also connected at the other end to an upper frame48 of cooling package 34 to maintain cooling package 34 in the operatingposition. A second link 80, see FIG. 6, may also be used to maintaincooling package 34 in the operating position (shown in FIG. 1). Coolingpackage 34 includes a lower frame 50 that is pivotably movable withrespect to fan housing 44 and frame 12 to permit cleaning of the opposedsurfaces of the cooling package 34.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial top perspective rear view of a portion ofcooling package 34 taken from region 5 of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5,cooling package 34 is disposed aft of fan 42 and fan housing 44. FIG. 5also shows a lower frame 50 disposed both aft of and in a lower positionthan fan housing 44. Lower frame 50 includes an outlet 62 for watercooler 36 (FIG. 1) and an outlet 64 for oil cooler 38 (FIG. 1). Lowerframe 50 also includes a pair of downward extending fittings 52, 54. Afitting 56 extends outwardly from frame 12. Each of fittings 56 and 52are configured to receive a fastener 60 and provide a pivotableconnection between lower frame 50 and frame 12. Similarly, a fitting 58extends outwardly from frame 12. Each of fittings 58 and 54 areconfigured to receive a fastener 60 and provide a pivotable connectionbetween lower frame 50 and frame 12. In alternate embodiments, lowerframe 50 may have one or more than two pivotable connections with frame12. While the pivotable connections of the exemplary embodiment areaxially aligned along a horizontal axis, pivotable connections ofalternate embodiments are not limited to axially aligned configurations.Additionally, pivotable connections may be disposed at an axis or axesthat are non-horizontal.

In the exemplary embodiment, the difference in angular orientationbetween the closed or operating position (FIG. 1) and the open ormaintenance position (FIG. 2) of cooling package 34, from the pivotingmovement 40 about the pivotal connections between frame 12 and lowerframe 50 is about 12 degrees. In the exemplary embodiment, pivotingcooling package 34 about 12 degrees from the closed or operatingposition to the opened or maintenance position provides sufficientclearance between the surfaces of frame 12, fan 42, and fan housing 44,and the front surfaces 100 of water cooler 36 and oil cooler 38 topermit cleaning of the front surfaces 100 and corresponding surfaces offrame 12, fan 42 and fan housing 44. In other embodiments, a pivotingmovement in excess of 12 degrees may be used. In addition, thearrangement of the cooling package 34 in the open or maintenanceposition shown in FIG. 2 permits cleaning of the water cooler 36 and oilcooler 38 side surfaces facing respective sides 26, 28. Preferably, noneof the fluid connections of the work vehicle and the respective coolers36, 38 must be disconnected.

In alternate embodiments, instead of the pivotable connections betweenlower frame 50 and frame 12 as provided for in this exemplaryembodiment, other arrangements, such as rails, mechanical linkages,channels, etc. may be used to provide both a pivotable and translationalmovement of cooling package 34.

FIG. 6 shows a top perspective rear view of an embodiment of a workvehicle showing cooling package 34 disposed in the maintenance position.Upper frame 48 includes an upper frame portion 70 associated with watercooler 36 and an upper frame portion 72 associated with oil cooler 38.In the exemplary embodiment, upper frame portion 70 and a correspondingportion of lower frame 50 are pressed onto the coil structure of watercooler 36. Similarly, upper frame portion 72 and a corresponding portionof lower frame 50 are pressed onto the coil structure of oil cooler 38.The assembled cooling package 34 is of unitary construction. However,other techniques of joining respective portions of upper frame 48, lowerframe 50 and coolers 36, 38, such as adhesives, application of heat,with or without other compounds or components, mechanical fasteners, ora combination thereof may also be used.

Each of upper frame portion 70 and upper frame portion 72 includes aboss 76 having an opening 78, such as a threaded opening, to receive afastener 82 extending through a corresponding link 80 secured to frame12. A lug 84 is formed in upper frame portion 70 of upper portion upperframe 48 and a lug 84 is formed in upper frame portion 72 of upperportion upper frame 48 to simplify handling of cooling package 34. Upperframe portion 70 includes an inlet 66 to receive hose 74 connected toengine (not shown). Water from the engine flows through hose 74 and thenthrough inlet 66, flowing though water cooler 36 before exiting viaoutlet 62 (FIG. 5) prior to returning to the engine via another hose(not shown). In a similar fashion, oil received from a source (notshown) via an inlet 68 of upper frame portion 72 flows through the oilcooler 38 and exits via outlet 64 (FIG. 5) prior to returning to anaccumulator (not shown). In the exemplary embodiment, upper frame 48 andlower frame 50 are constructed of cast metal, such as aluminum or othersuitable metal, such as steel, although other suitable materials, suchas thermoplastics, and non-cast materials may be used.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial top perspective view of an interconnectingregion 88 is of cooling package 34 taken from region 7 of FIG. 6.Interconnecting region 88 is defined as the upper junction of watercooler 36 and oil cooler 38. As shown in FIG. 7, upper frame portion 72includes a pair of parallel fittings 92 and upper frame portion 70includes a pair of parallel fittings 90. When water cooler 36 and oilcooler 38 are fixed relative to each other to form cooling package 34,respective fittings 90, 92 mesh and are configured to receive afastening arrangement, such as a fastener 94 and nut 98, including aspacer 96 disposed between meshed fittings 90, 92 to allow the watercooler 36 and oil cooler 38 to be disconnected. The fasteningarrangement secures upper frame portion 70 to upper frame portion 72. Inan alternate embodiment, lower frame 50 includes a similar constructionas interconnecting region 88, in which lower frame 50 would includeseparable lower frame portions dedicated to a corresponding water cooler36 and oil cooler 38. That is, water cooler 36 and oil cooler 38 wouldbe disconnected from each other, permitting removal of only one of thecoolers 36, 38 if desired, such as for damage repair, or to cleanbetween the facing surfaces of the coolers 36, 38.

It is to be understood that fluids other than water may be used withwater cooler 36.

While the invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the inventionwill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A work vehicle comprising: a frame; and a cooling package comprising:a water cooler and an oil cooler disposed in a fixed side-by-sidearrangement; and the water cooler and the oil cooler movably supportedside-by-side on the frame; and the cooling package comprising a frontsurface and a rear surface; wherein the cooling package is configured tomove on the frame to permit cleaning of the front surface of the coolingpackage.
 2. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cooling package ispivotable on the frame.
 3. The work vehicle of claim 2, wherein thecooling package can pivot on the frame at least 12 degrees.
 4. The workvehicle of claim 2, wherein the cooling package is pivotable on theframe about a horizontal or a non-horizontal axis.
 5. The work vehicleof claim 2, wherein the cooling package is movable in translation on theframe.
 6. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cooling package is ofunitary construction.
 7. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein at leastone of an upper frame and a lower frame of the cooling package is a castmaterial.
 8. The work vehicle of claim 1, wherein the upper frameincludes a lifting lug.
 9. The work vehicle of claim 7, wherein theupper frame and the lower frame are pressed onto the cooling package.10. The work vehicle of claim 9, wherein the cooling package is composedof a tube and fin construction.
 11. The work vehicle of claim 10,wherein the cooling package is separable.
 12. A cooler arrangementcomprising: a cooling package comprising: a water cooler and an oilcooler disposed in a fixed side-by-side arrangement; and the watercooler and the oil cooler movably supported side-by-side on a frame; andthe cooling package comprising a front surface and a rear surface;wherein the cooling package is configured to move on the frame to permitcleaning of the front surface of the cooling package.
 13. The coolerarrangement of claim 12, wherein the cooling package is configured for apivotable connection with the frame.
 14. The cooler arrangement of claim12, wherein the cooling package is of unitary construction.
 15. Thecooler arrangement of claim 12, wherein at least one of an upper frameand a lower frame of the cooling package is a cast material.
 16. Thecooler arrangement of claim 12, wherein the cooling package includes alifting lug.
 17. The cooler arrangement of claim 15, wherein the upperframe and the lower frame are pressed onto the cooling package.
 18. Thecooler arrangement of claim 17, wherein the cooling package is composedof a tube and fin construction.
 19. The cooler arrangement of claim 17,wherein the cooling package is separable.